The Montana 4-H Horse Program is made up of ten separate project areas.  Members are eligible to participate in the Horse Projects according to their ability and skill level.  These skill levels, jowever, do not necessarily correspond to years in the project.  It is possible to complete several levels in a year, or youth may take several years to complete on level.  Assessments are provided for Superintendent(s) to determine when a member has completed a level and is ready to move to the next level.  The following is an overview of each project.

Horseless Horse

If you don’t own a horse, some of the activities in this project will help you decide if you want to continue your pursuit of learning about, riding, and caring for  horses.  A Horseless Horse project member may also enroll simultaneously in Horsemanship, Horse Judging, and Horse Careers projects.

Horsemanship

There are seven levels of horsemanship where members develop riding skills, increase their knowledge of horses, and study horse care and safety.  4-H members must complete Level 3 to enroll in advanced horse projects, unless specified differently.

Colt to Maturity

Training a young horse from the weanling stage through the five-year-old year.  Members must be 12 years old or older during the current 4-H year and have completed Horsemanship Levels 1, 2, & 3.

Green Horse

Training a green broke horse of any age.  Members must be 12 years old or older during the current 4-H year and have completed Horsemanship Levels 1, 2, and 3.

Driving

Learn driving skills and train your horse to drive either single, teams, or large hitches.  Members will start in Level 1 , ground driving.  Level 2 and up are designed for the members to pull a horse drawn vehicle.

Packing

Learn how to pack a horse, how to organize a pack trip, and how to complete a several day pack trips in the mountains.  

Working Ranch Horse

Members will learn basic horse and ranch work skills including learning how to fix fence, rope, pen cattle, brand identification, give shots, and more.  To participate in this project in Lewis & Clark County, members DO NOT need to complete Horsemanship Levels 1-3.

Horse Careers

Learn about opportunities for members desiring a career in the horse industry.  Members enroll in the project simultaneously with any Horsemanship Level.

Horse Showing

Is NOT offered in L & C county.  This project is for members that want to show in breed shows or open shows.  This project is NOT required for participating in 4-H horseshows. 

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and the Montana State University Extension Service prohibit discrimination in all of their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Director of Extension, Extension Service, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717